Quality of life of cancer children-adolescents with and without fatigue

Author(s)

Michele Darezzo Rodrigues Nunes ^[1] ; Eufemia Jacob ^[2] ; Luís Carlos Lopes-Júnior ^[3] ; Ana Carolina Andrade Biaggi Leite ^[4] ; Regina Aparecida Garcia de Lima ^[5] ; Lucila Castanheira Nascimento ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro - Brasil

^[2] University of California Los Angeles. School of Nursing

^[3] Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo - Brasil

^[4] Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto - Brasil

^[5] Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto - Brasil

^[6] Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Acta Paulista de Enfermagem; v. 35, 2022-06-06.

Abstract

Abstract Objective To compare the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores of children and adolescents hospitalized with cancer who had and did not have fatigue and to correlate fatigue and HRQoL. Method This is a cross-sectional study carried out for 48 months in the onco-hematology sector of a public hospital located in the interior of São Paulo, with 63 children and adolescents with cancer. To measure fatigue and HRQoL, participants completed the instruments Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory - acute version - in the generic module and cancer module. Data were analyzed using descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistics. Results The means of the total fatigue scores (61.2±16.3) and HRQoL (generic: 61.5±20.5; cancer: 61.2±16.3) were low, demonstrating that children and adolescents with cancer are fatigued (p=0.000) and with low quality of life (p=0.000). In the regression model, fatigue could be explained in 61.25% by the variables emotional functioning (p=0.0110), school functioning (p=0.0004) and cognitive difficulties (p=0.0017). Participants without fatigue had better mean HRQoL score when compared to the group with fatigue. Conclusion Children and adolescents hospitalized with cancer have a low quality of life and high levels of fatigue. Furthermore, the relationship between some HRQoL dimensions and fatigue is positive, indicating that the worse the school and emotional functioning and the greater the cognitive difficulties, the greater the fatigue. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/20055-6 - Assessment of fatigue in children and adolescents with cancer and its relations with sleep patterns and quality of life
• Grantee: Michelle Darezzo Rodrigues Nunes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 12/00091-3 - Assessment of fatigue in children and adolescents with cancer and its relations with sleep patterns and quality of life
• Grantee: Michelle Darezzo Rodrigues Nunes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate